Patient educational handouts

All of our patient handouts: dialysis, diet, kidney disease, and lifestyle are in a printable PDF format.

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DIALYSIS

A brief overview of home hemodialysis

Home hemodialysis is rapidly growing in popularity among dialysis patients looking to have more control over when and how they dialyze.

About peritoneal dialysis (PD)

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a treatment for kidney failure patients, which allows dialysis to occur inside the body by infusing fluid into the abdomen. Most patients who choose PD perform their own treatments at home or at their workplace.

Dialyzer reuse

It is a safe, common procedure used in many hemodialysis facilities in the United States.

In-center self care hemodialysis

In-center self care hemodialysis empowers dialysis patients by giving them greater control of their care, increasing self esteem and improving quality of life. It can also serve as a smooth transition to home dialysis.

Nocturnal hemodialysis

Nocturnal hemodialysis is a dialysis treatment option that people perform at night for approximately eight hours while they sleep.

Renal cancer and chronic kidney disease

Renal cell cancer (RCC), or kidney cancer, is an abnormal mass or tumor growing in the kidney.

Vascular access - your lifeline to hemodialysis

Learning about the different access types enables a patient to understand the pros and cons of each, so they are able to have more thorough conversations with their doctors.

What are my dialysis choices?

When people find out they need dialysis, they may not be aware that several types of dialysis are available to fit their health and lifestyle needs.

What is hemodialysis

Hemodialysis is a treatment for end stage renal disease (ESRD), or kidney failure, in which blood is removed from the body, filtered through an artificial kidney and then the cleaned blood is returned to the body.

DIET

Dietary protein and chronic kidney disease (CKD)

Most of the body - skin, muscle, tissues, nails, hair - is made of protein. But what is protein? And if it is so important for our health, why can some kidney disease patients eat it, while others have limited amounts?

Dining out on the dialysis diet

While dining out may be a little harder than eating in for those on the dialysis diet - since you can never be sure what amounts of sodium, potassium and phosphorus are in the foods you order - it is possible to dine out and make smart choices.

Fluid control for kidney disease patients on dialysis

One part of the renal diet that many kidney disease and dialysis patients find difficult is controlling fluid intake.

Getting enough nutrition for people with kidney disease

Getting enough nutrition is a common problem for some people with renal failure due to losses in appetite and energy. DaVita dietitian, Mary Jo Dahms, gives tips to help get the calories and protein necessary for health.

Hemodialysis Diet

People on hemodialysis are given a special diet to follow. Lowering phosphorus, potassium, sodium and fluid intake between dialysis treatments is part of the treatment for their kidney failure.

Nutrition and chronic kidney disease

It seems all of America is on a diet, whether it is low carb, low fat or high protein. But if you have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), awareness of your food choices and how these choices can affect your kidneys is important.

Phosphorus and chronic kidney disease

Even in the early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) a patient will hear about the importance of limiting phosphorus in the diet.

Potassium, phosphorus and the dialysis diet

Understand the difference between potassium and phosphorus and learn why both are limited in the dialysis diet.

Sodium and chronic kidney disease

If you have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), too much sodium can cause complications. Learn more about sodium, what it does and how it affects patients with renal disease.

The peritoneal dialysis diet

People on peritoneal dialysis are given a special diet to follow to keep minerals in balance and make sure they are getting enough nutrients. They are usually instructed to consume fewer calories due to the extra calories from their dialysis solution.

What is a CKD non-dialysis diet?

People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are not yet on dialysis may be given a special diet to follow. The purpose of the diet is to help prolong kidney function.

KIDNEY DISEASE

Anemia and chronic kindney disease

For people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), anemia is a common complication. Why are people with CKD at risk for anemia?

Chronic kidney disease and your heart

Your heart and blood vessels can become damaged as a result of CKD or as a result of the underlying conditions that caused your renal disease.

Diabetes and chronic kidney disease

Many people with diabetes are not aware that chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure. Learn about the diabetes and kidney disease connection and how you can keep your kidneys healthy.

Do you have symptoms of chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

There are usually few symptoms to indicate there is a problem until a person is in kidney failure and needs dialysis. Here are some symptoms of kidney disease.

Polycystic kidney disease

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the fourth leading cause of kidney failure.

Preventing kidney disease

Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease. Keeping diabetes in check and early diagnosis of kidney disease could help decrease the chances of developing kidney failure.

Renal osteodystrophy - bone disease and kidney failure

It may sound odd to hear that kidney disease can lead to bone disease; however, 90 percent of those on dialysis and many with chronic kidney disease have renal osteodystrophy.

Risks for CKD in African Americans

Compared to other ethnic groups, the African American population has higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure, which are the two leading causes of kidney disease.

Risks for CKD in Asian Americans

Learn about the risks of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for Asian Americans and how to stay healthy.

Risks for CKD in Hispanic Americans

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious health problem for Hispanic Americans. What can be done?

Stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD)

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) has divided chronic kidney disease into five stages to create a guideline to identify and treat each level of kidney disease.

What kidneys do and how they fail

Kidneys perform many functions. Kidney failure usually occurs due to a handful of reasons. Find out about the different jobs performed by the kidneys and discover the top causes of kidney failure.

Who gets end stage renal disease (ESRD)?

Find out what leads to ESRD and if you are at risk.

LIFESTYLE

Depression - Do not let it rob you of your happiness

Finding out you have kidney disease, and then adjusting to the changes in your lifestyle after beginning dialysis, can cause feelings of loss and depression. Depression is a disease that is common and treatable.

Emergency preparedness for people with kidney disease

Emergency situations happen with little or no warning. If you depend on dialysis, you'll need an emergency kit with specific items. Do you have the essential items needed to tide you over if an emergency situation prevents you from getting dialysis?

Exercise for dialysis patients - Of course, you can exercise

Many people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) say exercise was the key to helping them feel "normal" again after they began dialysis. Learn how exercise can help people with kidney disease feel better physically and more in control of their lives emotionally.

Home dialysis and employment

There are tips for overcoming fatigue, working out a flexible schedule and preparing coworkers that can make employment on home dialysis easier. Learn more about home dialysis and employment.

Kidney transplant the alternative to dialysis

For people who have lost nearly 90% of their kidney function, the only treatment options are dialysis or a kidney transplant. While dialysis replaces failed renal function, a transplant replaces a diseased kidney.

Mental health services for people with kidney disease

People on dialysis generally have access to a social worker and other mental health services that are available to patients and their caregivers. DaVita Social Worker Cecily Sherlock-Huizing and intern, Sara Lowe, provide treatment tips for maintaining good mental health.

Potassium and chronic kidney disease

Potassium is a mineral found in many of the foods we eat. People with advanced stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) or on dialysis need to limit the amount of potassium in their diets.

Telling others you have chronic kidney disease

How do you tell the people around you that you have chronic kidney disease? Do you even have to tell them at all? Here are some tips to help you decide who to tell and how to tell them.

Tips for parents of children with chronic kidney disease

Finding out your child has chronic kidney disease will bring up many questions. Here are a few tips to help parents better deal with their child's illness and the changes in the day-to-day life of the entire family.

What happens if someone stops dialysis?

For the patient, the decision not to dialyze should be an informed and voluntary choice. For family and friends of the person with kidney failure, the decision not to have treatment may be difficult to understand. However, with advance planning, patients can spend their last days how and where they choose.

In this section

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This site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from a physician. Please check with a physician if you need a diagnosis and/or for treatments as well as information regarding your specific condition. If you are experiencing urgent medical conditions, call 9-1-1

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